SEMINAR ON POLICY AWARENESS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 15 NOVEMBER

SEMINAR ON POLICY AWARENESS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 15 NOVEMBER

The third and final high-level United Nations seminar for 2002 on “Policy Awareness and Security Issues on Information Technology” is to be held this week.

The seminar, under the auspices of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force and the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Informatics, organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will be held on Friday, 15 November in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

The seminar is part of the series on “Policy Awareness and Training in Information Technology”, and is implemented with the participation and sponsorship of Intel Corporation.

The series, designed for New York-based senior and mid-level delegates from United Nations Member States, consists of a set of four progressive modules and one seminar presented as a cycle, which was repeated four times this year.  The first four modules focus on technical "know-how" and are geared toward all diplomats.  The fifth module in each cycle, which is conducted as an interactive seminar, is intended primarily for ambassadors and senior diplomats.

Since its launch last April, this UNITAR seminar has trained more than

100 diplomats, half of whom were ambassadors or ministers.

Among the seminar’s presenters on Friday will be Eduardo Gelbstein, an expert in corporate as well as individual information security and the former Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre.  He will identify best practices and standards on obtaining help to strengthen information security, and discuss existing and potential legislation for an environment where it is difficult to enforce laws.

Mohsen Khalil, Director, Global Information and Communication Technologies, the World Bank Group, will deliver a lecture on policy options for governments for incorporating new and affordable technologies to help bridge the digital divide.

Closing remarks will be delivered by Ambassador Ahmad Kamal, chairman of the series of seminars; Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette; Michael A. Fors, Intel Corporation, Inc; Sarbuland Khan, ICT Task Force; and Lorne Jaques, Chief of the UNITAR New York Office.

New threats and problems have emerged along with the information technology revolution, especially cyber-threats, cyber-attacks and cyber-terrorism.  Such

threats can not only have a deep impact on the economic and social fabric of society, but also stifle development.  Great damage can result from panic, hesitation and lack of trust.  It is imperative for nations using information technologies to be aware of such problems, and focus efforts on combating them.

For information, please contact Enrica Murmura at the Secretariat of the United Nations ICT Task Force, (212) 963 5913, murmura@un.org.

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